Family Fun Directory: Things To Do with Kids

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It's been quite a ride, but the Minnesota Children's Museum has done a complete overhaul while still preserving the integrity of its mission.

Minnesota Children’s Museum is dedicated to providing children with a fun, hands-on and stimulating environment to explore and discover. The Museum helps to instill a lifelong love of learning by nurturing the real-world skills children need to become engaged citizens in the future.

With brand new exhibits and updated classics, I guarantee that your kids AND you will have a blast!

New Exhibits at Minnesota Children's Museum

While we were there on a testing day, we had the ability to check out some of the newest exhibits. The museum gutted everything and started from scratch, so while they still have Our World, you won't find it on the 2nd floor.

The Scramble

The Scramble

Funnel Slide

At the top

Look, Mom!

Climbing up to the top

The Scramble is the Minnesota Children's Museum's extreme indoor playground. It extends from the 1st floor to the 4th floor and is approximately 44 ft tall. Everything is big enough for adults to utilize the space, but extremely safe for the toddliest member of your family. • Best Feature: A staircase from top to bottom so parents can reach their kids quickly if necessary. • 2nd Best Feature: In three words: The Funnel Slide.

Super Awesome Adventures

Green Screen Fun!

Great space for middle grade kids.

Super Awesome Adventures is the place where creativity and large motor skills collide. Build an ultimate balance beam or sneak through the ninja course. • Best Feature: Strap sliders on your feet, put on a helmet, and swoosh down classic-shaped skatepark obstacles (no half pipes, though). • 2nd Best Feature: A climbing wall/green screen combination

Creativity Jam

This is the first stage of his double slide

FFTC is EVERYWHERE!

Creativity Jam begins with a creative face.

Creativity Jam was once a traveling exhibit that came and went on the whim of the Minnesota Children's Museum, but now it is a permanent feature that combines sticker joy with face paint joy, music joy, and building/engineering joy. • Best Feature: It's so hard to choose, but I think it's got to be the face paint station with adjustable mirrors on a long table for many kids to use at the same time (unlike the cart in the past). • 2nd Best Feature: Building station. The blocks they use are super unique and really fun.

Imaginopolis

Visiting our Imagination

Creative Play at work

Enter the Noodle Forest

Imaginopolis is home to creative play with simple lines and shapes. It's a somewhat empty place for your imagination to go wild. The lights are dimly lit and in one corner is the Noodle Forest. • Best Feature: The Noodle Forest. It's fun to enter and it's a cozy little space. • 2nd Best Feature: The simplicity of the space. I can see my 10 year old loving this place with a couple of friends. They would create a whole story of a new world.

Forces at Play

Sprouts

Our World

What is better than a wall of buttons?

Boys at Work

Firefighter to the rescue! Outta my way!

The Studio/Backyard/Tip Top Terrace

The Studio was updated with more than simple visual arts projects. Try your hand a sewing or sculpting or painting, etc. The Backyard is a brand new exhibit that includes a bird's nest for your little birdies and "earthy" activities.

The New outdoor were created to encourage kids to take 'healthy risks that challenge both body and mind." Some new elements include a giant kaleidoscope, a mirror reflection house and a solar-powered sculpture.

The Tip Top Terrace is a seasonal exhibit on the tip top of the museum to view St. Paul, make a little music, or draw. A shade awning over this space was was created in partnership with the Center for Hmong Arts & Talent.

The first kid to ever go down The Scramble! And on his BIRTHDAY!

Tips from the Minnesota Children's Museum Website

If you park in the World Trade Center Ramp, bring your ticket for validation because 3 Hours is $5

Socks are REQUIRED in The Scramble

Kids might get wet in Forces at Play and Sprouts

*Pictures used with permission

Free Third Sundays at Minnesota Children's Museum

Third Sundays are free at MCM courtesy of Target. Interestingly, the museum's expansion has actually reduced its capacity. Therefore, they expect lines on Free Third Sundays to be worse than in the past. It will likely be crowded.

Birthday Parties at Minnesota Children's Museum

Children's Museum offers staff-directed birthday parties that include set up, clean up and entrance into the galleries. There are two levels, the basic Monster Celebration Party is meant for a smaller, more active group of children that wants to spend their time playing and exploring the museum independent. It includes and ice cream treat and admission for up to 6 guests.

Members: $50, $8.95 per additional guest

Non-Members: $100, $16.95 per additional guest

The Monster Celebration Plus Party includes admission for more guest and a reserved table in the party room. Includes admission for up to 15 guests.

What is the Family Fun Twin Directory?

This is the most extensive collection of companies, organizations, activities and places to find things to do with kids in the Twin Cities. Find things to do this weekend, things to do today, things to do with toddlers, things to do with teens. We have it all. Sort by indoor things to do with kids or outdoor things to do with kids. Find theater, music, water parks, aquariums, zoos, museums, seasonal fun.

Find the Answers to Your Questions. How much does it cost? What are the hours? Where can I find discount tickets? Where did my favorite store go?

We share Family Friendly Businesses. We work hard to keep it the most current and accurate parenting resource in the Twin Cities. Not just a blog for moms, we are a informational resource for families. This parent to parent list is perfect for dads, moms and grandparents to find fun things to do with kids year round.

This directory was made for families who live in the Twin Cities metro to connect with local businesses. However, visitors to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area will find our directory useful to learn more about venues with insider tips and details. Use this directory to find the best things to do with families in Minnesota's largest metropolitan area.

Beginning July 3, 2019

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